Travel now: EU border biometrics, new airline routes and smart deals

Travel now , whether you are chasing a long‑haul bargain or planning a quick city break , the landscape is shifting beneath your passport. From October 2025 the EU will progressively introduce biometric border checks that change how non‑EU travellers enter and exit the Schengen area, while airlines push new long‑haul routes and apps offer smarter ways to lock and track prices.

This article explains what to expect from EU border biometrics (EES and the new sBMS), highlights notable route launches and seasonal capacity, and rounds up the best smart‑deal tools and practical tips to keep your trip smooth and affordable.

EES rollout: dates, scope and what is collected

The Entry/Exit System (EES) will start operations on 12 October 2025 and will be rolled out across external Schengen borders over the following six months, with full coverage expected by 10 April 2026. This progressive launch means different airports, ports and rail terminals will adopt the system in phases rather than all at once.

EES registers key travel data for most non‑EU nationals: passport information, entry and exit dates, a facial image and four fingerprints taken at the first entry. On subsequent crossings ports of entry will use fast verification instead of manual passport stamping, speeding routine checks after enrolment.

Data‑retention rules are explicit: entry, exit and refusal records are kept for three years, while an individual traveller file is kept for three years plus one day after the last exit , and up to five years if no exit is recorded. Records are automatically erased when retention periods end, per the official rules.

Shared Biometric Matching Service (sBMS) and system interoperability

Alongside EES, the Commission activated the Shared Biometric Matching Service (sBMS) on 19 May 2025. The sBMS will contain roughly 400 million biometric templates and is designed to improve fingerprint and facial matching precision across EU systems.

eu‑LISA and the Commission have built interoperability between sBMS, the Visa Information System (VIS), Eurodac and the Schengen Information System (SIS). That cross‑matching capability helps visa, asylum and border authorities identify and verify individuals more reliably, but it also means enrolment data can be used for legitimate checks across multiple systems.

For travellers this technical backbone translates into quicker identity verification at many checkpoints, and into more accurate detection of duplicates or fraud attempts. It is a significant step toward harmonised digital borders across EU member states.

Who is enrolled, exemptions and the traveller experience

Most non‑EU travellers will need a one‑time enrolment at their first EES entry that includes a photo and four fingerprints. Children under 12 are generally exempt from fingerprinting and only need a facial image; residents and long‑stay visa holders are typically exempt as well.

Transport operators and border authorities are preparing kiosks and e‑gates; some operators have invested heavily in infrastructure , for example the Eurotunnel reportedly invested around £80m , and say kiosks will add at most two minutes to processing times. Expect short transitional queues at some crossings in the first months of rollout.

Operationally, phased implementation means the passenger experience will vary by location and time. Airports and ports will publish guidance about pre‑registration or kiosk steps, and staff will assist travellers during the early months to ease the transition.

Privacy, legal oversight and controlled law‑enforcement access

The operation of EES and sBMS is governed by EU data‑protection rules and oversight structures aligned with GDPR principles. Access to biometric and travel records is limited to authorised border personnel and designated law‑enforcement authorities under clearly defined legal conditions.

There are built‑in legal safeguards, retention limits and audit mechanisms to reduce misuse and protect travellers’ rights. National supervisory authorities and EU bodies play roles in ensuring compliance and transparency about who accesses data and for which purposes.

Still, the wider sharing and matching capabilities mean privacy‑minded travellers should understand the systems in advance , reading the official EES and eu‑LISA guidance is a good first step to knowing how biometric data is processed and deleted.

New long‑haul routes and seasonal growth to watch

Airlines continued expanding transatlantic and long‑haul networks in 2025, 26. Scandinavian Airlines launched the first nonstop route between Scandinavia and Seoul (CPH, ICN) on 12 September 2025, operating A350s and increasing frequency seasonally to meet demand.

Other notable network changes include Aer Lingus’ new seasonal Dublin → Cancún service (A330‑300) launching in January 2026 with promotional launch fares from €291 one‑way, United extending its Edinburgh → Washington service into winter 2025/26 and IndiGo debuting daily Mumbai → London Heathrow flights from 26 October 2025.

Air Canada’s adjusted London, Mumbai winter routing and other carriers’ seasonal additions reflect a wider trend: airlines are restoring and adding niche long‑haul links as post‑pandemic demand and leisure travel patterns evolve, which creates fresh route promos and booking windows for travellers.

Smart deals: price‑freeze, tracking, personalization and AI

OTAs and apps now offer price‑freeze or price‑hold features that let travellers lock fares or room rates for a fee. These products use historical price patterns and machine‑learning models to recommend whether to book now or hold for a short period , useful around new route launches when promotional fares appear.

Price‑tracking and rebooking tools (for example Pruvo and Hopper’s hotel trackers) monitor fares after booking and notify users when prices drop; consumers report average savings from such services. Airlines and airports also deploy AI to personalise offers, automate marketing and speed content creation, helping travellers find targeted deals.

When carriers launch routes they commonly pair the news with promotional fares. That makes route‑launch windows an ideal time to use a price freeze or tracker , lock a fare briefly while you confirm plans, then rely on monitoring tools to rebook if prices fall.

Practical operational advice: what to do now

If you plan to travel to or through the Schengen area, carry a biometric‑compatible passport and check whether your nationality requires EES enrolment. Allow extra time at the airport or terminal during the phased rollout and follow the specific guidance for kiosks or e‑gates at your departure/arrival points.

For deal‑hunters, set up price alerts, consider short fee‑based price holds around launch promotions, and use reprice/rebooking services to capture post‑booking drops on hotels. Bookmark primary sources , EU EES & ETIAS pages, eu‑LISA interoperability reports and airline press rooms , for the latest official guidance and route‑specific offers.

Finally, weigh privacy and documentation: know the retention rules for EES, the scope of sBMS matching, and keep records of authorisations if you have questions. Being prepared reduces surprises and helps you move from planning to boarding with confidence.

Travel now means navigating a faster, more digital border environment while taking advantage of expanding route choices and smarter booking tools. With a little preparation , the right passport, a price tracker, and an eye on launch promos , you can travel efficiently and economically.

Bookmark official EU pages (EES, ETIAS and eu‑LISA) and airline press rooms to stay current. That combination of knowledge and tech will have you enjoying new long‑haul routes and smart deals without letting the border changes slow you down.